Method of and apparatus for crimping the marginal portion of sheet material



J 4 J. s. KAMBORIAN 2,378,539

' METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CRIMPING' THE MARGINAL PORTION OF SHEET MATERIAL Filed May 4, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 19, 1945. J. 5; KAMBORIAN I 2,378,639

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CRIMPING THE MARGINAL PORTION OF SHEET MATERIAL Filed May 4, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 175117172107 1 {72665,5. KZIi/ZJ/li (IZVZ Patented June 19, 1945 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CRIMP- ING THE MARGINAL PORTION OF SHEET MATERIAL Jacob S. Kamborian, West Newton, Mass.

Application May 4, 1944, semi No. 534,118

19 Claims.

This invention pertains to apparatus for mechanically crimping sheet material, more particularly to means for contracting the edge portion of normally fiat sheet material thereby to impart a concave-convex or gathered effect to the marginal portion of the sheet. The illustrative embodiment herein chosen for specific description is primarily intended to impart a pre-lasted shape to a shoe upper or to a portion, forexample, a vamp of a shoe upper, thereby to facilitate the attachment, as by stitching, of the upper to a bottom member, for instance a sock lining, inner sole or the like.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide simple, durable, inexpensive and easily operated apparatus for so shrinking, gathering or crimping sheet material, particularly leather or equivalent material used in a shoe upper, and to provide apparatus capable of shrinking the material to a greater or lesser degree at will. Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the following more detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. l is a front elevation of apparatus embody-r ing the present invention;

.Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus to smaller scale, with the casing or cover removed;

Fig. 4 is a section to larger scale on the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary diagrammatic section,

v to smaller scale, on the line 55 of Fig. 4 but suggesting a slight modification; I

Fig; 6 is a fragmentary diagrammatic section illustrating the mode of operation of the apparatus;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic plan view of a typical shoe vamp before being crimped; I

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the vamp after being crimped by the present apparatus; and 4 j Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevation to large scale showing the appearance of the crimped material.

Referring to the drawings, thenumeral l designates a base of any suitable material, for

example a casting which may be supported upon a bench, post or equivalent' device, not shown. Mounted on the rear part of the base I is an electric motor 2 (Fig. 3) having a shaft 3' provided with a pulley 4 which is embraced by an endless belt 5 which engages a pulley on the shaft 8 of a speed-reduction gearing I mounted on the base I. 'I'his'speed-reduction gearing may be of any suitable conventional type, and

to the base in any desired manner.

has the slow speed power delivery shaft 8. This shaft is provided with a coupling 9 by means of which it is coupled end-On to a shaft I0 mounted to turn in a bearing ll carried by the upright front panel l2, the panel I2 constituting part of the machine frame and being rigidly secured The shaft l0 projects forwardly through the panel i2 and has a disk or roll i3 fixed to its forward end, the roll i3 preferably having peripheral teeth I4. These teeth may be conventional gear teeth or of any other kind, for instance mere ribs o flutes, or in fact, as suggested in Fig. 5, the teeth as such may be dispensed with and replaced by other gripping means, for instance, the roll may have a rim or tire M of friction material such as rubber or rubbber impregnated with abrasive.

An arm l5 (Fig. 1) is pivotaiiy secured at l5 to thepanel l2, and is provided at its free end with a bearing for a shaft l6 (Fig. 4). A roll I1 is fixed on the rear. end of the shaft l6, this roll being provided with peripheral teeth l8 or equivalent work-gripping means and, as here shown, is of the same diameter as the roll l3. The shaft [6 is screw threaded at its forward end IQ for the reception of a nut which bears against one end of the coiled compression spring 20 encircling the shaft I6 and whose rear end bears against a brake collar 2| keyed to the shaft and which in turn bears frictionally against the front face of the lever arm IS. The spring 20 tends to move the collar i5 rearwardly and to press its rear surface against the forward face 22 of the arm I5, the frictional pressure between these parts retarding rotation of the shaft and roll. Suitable brake lining material of conventional type may be interposed between the collar l5 and the face 22, if desired. By adjusting the nut, this frictional braking action may be varied so as to vary the force required to turn the roll H.

y A compression spring 23 (Fig. l) bears at one end against the upper edge of the arm 15 and at its opposite end against a collar 24 carried by a screw 25 mounted in a bracket 26. The spring 23 thus tends to urge the roll I! downwardly, the

degree of the force exerted by the spring being adjustable at will.

An elongate, substantially horizontal work rest 21, having a substantially flat upper surface, is arranged beneath the rolls l3 and H, the work rest being carried by or forming part of an arm 28 pivotally mounted at 29 on the panel l2. A tension spring 30 is connected to the free end of the arm 28 and to a fixed abutment carried by the panel l2, and tends to urge the work rest 21 upwardly toward the peripheries of the wheels l3 and H. The force exerted by the spring I; is suflicient to cause the teeth of the wheels I3 and I! to be embedded in work resting upon the work rest 21. In the machine illustrated in Fig. 1, the work moves from right to left alon the work rest 21, the latter preferably being provided with a vertical shoulder 3| (Fig. 4) constituting a gauge or guide for the extreme rear edge of the work U. As indicated in Figs. 1 and 5, the axes of the rolls l3 and I! are spaced apart horizontally, the axis of the roll 11 being to the left of the axis of the roll [3, that is to say, it is spaced from the latter in the direction of advance of the work. However, the spacing of these axes is less than the radius of one of the rolls so that the rolls overlap, the roll I2 being in a plane to the rear of that of the roll IT. The points of contact of the rolls with the work rest 21 are thus spaced a short distance apart in the direction of work feed, with the point of contact of the roll l3 disposed in a vertical plane to the rear of that of the roll II, as shown in Fig. 4.

The work rest 21, or the arm 28 which supports it, is preferably furnished with a chamber 32 (Fig. 4) for the reception of an electrical heating unit 33. A conductor 34 (Fig. 1) leads from this heating unit and passes rearwardly through a vertical slot 35 in the panel l2. The free end of the arm 28 is provided with a hook or loop 36 to which is attached the upper end of a chain, cable, cord or equivalent element 31 which leads downwardly to a treadle (not shown) or equivalent means whereby the operator may move the arm 28 downwardly, thus separating the work rest 21 from the rolls l3 and I1, thereby introduction of the work.

A switch 38 (Fig. 1) is conveniently'mounted upon the panel l2, and from this switch conductors 39 lead to a power inlet box 4| mounted on the base I, the connections being such that by manipulation of the switch levers current may be supplied independently for operating the motor, and also for heating the unit 33, respectively. Preferably the machine is provided with a removable cover C (Fig. 1) to protect the motor and the other parts which are disposed to the rear of the panel I 2.

In Fig. '7 there is illustrated a conventional to facilitate the shoe vamp U formed of sheet material, for example leather, and having the rounded forward edge 4|, the entire vamp being initially flat.

Before the work is presented to the machine, it is mulled, that is to say, moistened in any customary way, so that the material becomes plastic and mouldable. In the operation of the machine, the work rest is moved downwardly to admit the edge of the vamp between'the work rest and the lower parts of the rolls I2 and I1. Assuming that the motor is in operation and that the work rest has been heated and that the work has now been introduced between the work rest and the rolls, and that the work rest has resumed its normal position, the teeth ll of the feed roll l3 bite into the upper surface of the material U (Fig. 6) and tend to advance the work at the same peripheral speed as that of the feed roll l3. However, the teeth ll of the retarding roll I! likewise bite into the material, and since this roll I1 is prevented from turning freely by the brake mechanism including the spring 20, that portion of the work which is engaged by the teeth I. can not advance as rapidly as it is urged to do by the roll l3. There is thus a diii'erential movement between that portion of the work engaged by the roll I! and that engaged by the roll II, the effect being to compact the fibrous structure of the material, thus shortening it in a direction parallel with its edge and at the same time slightly thickening it as shown at T (Fig. 6). The teeth of the roll l3 form a series of indentations 42 (Fig. 9) in the material inwardly from its extreme edge, while the teeth of the roll I! form a second series of indentations 43 very close to the edge. The net result of this operation is to pucker, gather or crimp a, margin of the material as shown at 44 (Fig. 8) so that the material at the margin and adjacent to the margin is caused to take a concavo-convex form more or less simulating the lasted shape of the shoe upper after lasting shall have been performed. Since the work rest is hot, the material is fixed in this crimped condition, and as it emerges from beneath the roll II, it retains substan-- tially all of the shape thus imparted to it, the teeth of the rollsapparently deforming the material for a substantial part of its thickness and stressing it beyond its elastic limit so that in combination with the heat applied a permanent set is imparted to the material.

While the machine as here illustrated and described is primarily intended for crimping the marginal portion of a shoe upper or shoe upper part, it is obvious that it may be applied to the similar crimping of other sheet material of such characteristics that it will retain substantially the shape imparted in. passing it through the machine. It is further to be understood that while one desirable embodiment of the invention has been illustrated by way of example, the invention is not necessarily limited to the precise arrangements, dimensions or materials suggested,

but is broadly inclusive of any equivalent constructions falling within the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Method of crimping the margin of sheet material which comprises continuously applying a positive advancing force close to the edge of the material, the force acting in a direction such as to tend to advance the material longitudinally of its edge, and concomitantly applying a retarding force tending to prevent such advance, the retarding force being applied to a point spaced forwardly in-the direction of work advance from the point of application of the advancing force, the relative intensities of the two forces being such, as, while producing a continual advance of the work, to crowd the material together in the space between the points of force application, thereby to shrink the material longitudinally of its edge andat the same time to thicken it.

2. Method of crimping the margin of sheet material which is plastic but which becomes shape-retaining by the application of heat, said method comprising as steps applyin a positive advancing force close to the edge of the material in a direction such-as to advance the material longitudinally of said edge, concomitantly applying a retarding force tending to prevent such advance, the retarding force being applied at a point spaced forwardly in the direction of work advance from the point of applicationof the advancing force, the relativeintensities of the two forces being such that the material is crowded togetherin the space between the points of force application,and applying heat to set the material in its crowded together condition.

3. Method-of crimping the margin of soft and mouldable shoe upper leather which comprises as steps applying a positive advancing force close to I the edge of the material in such a way as to tend to advance the material longitudinally of said edge, concomitantly applying a retarding force tending to prevent such advance, the retarding force being applied at a point spaced forwardly in the direction of work advance from the point of application of the advancingiorce the forces being or such relative material together in the space between the points of force application, and applying heat to the leather such as to set it in its crowded together condition.

4. Apparatus for use in crimping a margin of sheet material, said apparatus comprising means operative to apply a positive advancing force to the material along a line close to an edge of the latter and in a direction such as to tend to advance the material lengthwise .of said edge, and

means operative concomitantly to apply a retarding force opposing such advance of the material, the retarding means being so constructed and arranged as to act on the material at a point spaced forwardly in the direction of work advance from the point of application of the work advancing force, the advancing means being operative continuously to advance the work whereby the edge portion of the sheet material is crowded together between the points of force application and thereby contracted' in length and increased in thickness, and means for varying the intensity of the retarding force.

5. Apparatus for use in crimping a margin of sheet material, said apparatus comprising means operative to apply a positive advancing force to the material along a line close to an edge ofthe latter and in a direction such as to tend to advance the material lengthwise of said edge, and

means operative concomitantly to app y a retarding force opposing such advance of the material, the retarding means being so constructed and arranged as to act on the material at a point spaced forwardly in the direction of the work advance from the point of application of the work advancing force, the advancing means being operative continuously to advance the work whereby the edge portion of the sheet material is crowded together between the points of force application and thereby contracted in length and increased in thickness, and means for imparting a permanent set to the contracted material.

6. Apparatus for use in crimping a margin of sheet material, said apparatus comprising means operative to apply a positive advancing force to the material along a line close to an edge of the latter and in a direction such as to tend to advance the material lengthwise of said edge, and means operative concomitantly to apply a retarding force opposing such advance of the material, the retarding means being so constructed and arranged as to act on the material at a point spaced forwardly in the direction of work advance from the point of application of the work advancing force, the; advancing means being operative continuously to advance the work whereby the edge portion of the sheet material is crowded together between the points of force application and thereby contracted in length and increased in thickness, and heating means for imparting a permanent set to the contracted material.

'7. Apparatus for use in crimping a margin of sheet material, said apparatus comprising means operative to apply a positive advancing force to the material along a line close to an. edge of the latter and in a direction such as to tend to ad-' vance the material lengthwise of said edge, and

intensity as to crowd the means operative concomitantly to apply a retarding force opposing such advance of the material, the retarding means being so constructed and arranged as to act on the material at a point spaced forwardly in the direction of the work advance from the point of application of the work advancing force, the advancing means being operative continuously to advance the work whereby the edge portion of the sheet material is crowded together between the points of force application and thereby contracted in length and increased in thickness, a work rest for supporting the work as it is advanced, and means for heating the work rest thereby to impart a permanent set to the contracted material in its thickened condition. y

8. Apparatus for use in crimping the margin of sheet material, said apparatus comprising a positively driven work engaging teed roll operative to apply a positive advancing force to the material close to one edge of the latter, and means operative concomitantly to apply a retardin force opposing such advance of the material, the retarding means being constructed and arranged to act on the material at apoint spaced forwardly in the direction of work advance from the point of application of the work advancing force, the feed roll being operative continuously to advance the work at a speed greater than that permitted by the retarding means, whereby the edge portion of the material is contracted in length and increased in thickness between the points of force application.

9. Apparatus for use in crimping the margin of sheet material, said apparatus comprising a positively driven toothed roll so arranged that its teeth bite into thematerial and apply a positive advancing force to the material close to an edge of the latter, and means operative concomitantly to apply a retarding force opposing such advance of the material, the retarding means being constructed and arranged to act on the material at a point spaced forwardly in the direction of work advance from the point of application of the toothed feed wheel, the toothed feed wheel being operative continuously to advance the work at a rate greater than" that permitted by the retarding means.

10. Apparatus for use in crimping the margin of sheet material, said apparatus comprising means operative to apply av positive advancing force to thematerial close to an edge of the latter and in a direction such as to tend to advance the material lengthwise of said edge, a retarding roll which engages the work and means opposing free rotation of vthe roll whereby the latter is operative to apply a retarding force opposing advance of the material, the retarding roll being constructed and arranged to act on the material at a point spaced forwardly in the direction of work advance from the point of application of work advancing force, the advancingmeans being operative continuously to advance the work more rapidly than the rate permitted by the retarding roll whereby the material is crowded together between the points of force application.

11. Apparatus for use in crimping the margin of sheet material, said apparatus comprising means operative to apply a positive advancing force to the material close to an edge of the latter and in a direction such as to tend to advance the material lengthwise of said edge and a toothed roll whoseteeth are arranged to bite into the work, and brake means operative to prevent free rotation of the toothed roll whereby the latter acts to retard advance or the materlal, the retarding roll being arranged to act on thematerial at a point spaced forwardly in the direction 01' work advance from the point of application of the work advancing force.

12. Apparatus for use in crimping the margin of sheet material, said apparatus comprising means operative to apply a positive advancing force to the material close to an edge of the latter and in a direction such as to tend to advance the material lengthwise of said edge, a toothed roll and means resiliently urging it toward the work so that its teeth bite into the work and obtain a positive grip upon the latter, and ad- Justable brake means operative to prevent i'ree rotation of the toothed roll whereby the roll exerts a retarding force opposing advance of the material, the retarding roll being constructed and arranged to act on the material at a point spaced forwardly in the direction 01' work advance from the point of application of the work advancing force.

13. Apparatus for use in crimping the margin of sheet material, said apparatus comprising means operative to apply apositive advancing force to the material close to an edge of the latter and in' a direction such as to tend to advance the material lengthwise or said edge, a pivoted support carrying a roll so arranged that its edge engages the work, adjustable mean tending to swing the arm thereby to press the roll against the work, and adjustable means for retarding rotation of the roll whereby the roll exerts a retarding force opposing advance oi the material, the retarding roll being constructed and arranged to act on the material at a point spaced forwardly in the direction of work advance from the point of application of t e work advancing force.

14. Apparatus for use in crimping the margin of sheet material, said apparatus comprising means operative to apply a positive advancing force to the material close to an edge of the latter and in a direction such as to tend to advance the material lengthwise of said edge, a pivoted arm having an axially movable shaft mounted at its free end, a roll'fixed to said shaft, spring means urging the arm in a direction to cause the roll to engage the work, a brake element operative to oppose free rotation of the shaft, and adjustable means for varying the effect of the brake, the roll being-operative to apply a retarding force to the material thereby to oppose its advance by the advancing means, the retarding roll being constructed and arranged to act upon the material at a point spaced forward- -ly in the direction of work advance from the point of application of the work advancing force.

15. Apparatus for use in crimping the margin of sheet material, said apparatus comprising a work rest constituting a support for the margin of the sheet material, a pair of toothed rolls turning about spaced axes, said axes normally being at such distances from the work rest that the peripheries of both rolls engage work resting on the work rest, means operative positively to drive one of said rolls thereby to advance the work along the work rest toward the other roll, and means operative to prevent free rotation of the latter roll. a

16. Apparatus for use in crimping the margin of sheet material, said apparatus comprising a work rest constituting asupport for the margin of the sheet material, a. pair of toothed rolls turning about spaced axes, said axes normally being at such distances from the work rest that the peripheries of both rolls engage work resting on the work rest, the axes of the rolls being spaced apart a distance less than the radius of either roll and the rolls being disposed in parallel planes and closely adjacent to each other, and means operative positively to drive one of said rolls thereby to advance the work along the work rest toward the-- other roll, and means operative to prevent tree rotation of the latter roll.

17. Apparatus for use in crimping the margin 901 sheet material, said apparatus comprising a work rest constituting a support for the margin of the sheet material, a pair of toothed rolls turning about spaced axes, said axes normally being at such distances from the work rest that the peripheries of both rolls engage work resting on the work rest, the axes of the rolls being spaced apart a distance less than theradius of either roll and the rolls being disposed in parallel planes and closely adjacent to each other, and means operative positively to drive one of said rolls thereby to advance the work along the work rest toward the other roll, and means operative to prevent free rotation of the latter rolls, means so supporting the work rest that it may move toward and from a plane tangent to the peripheries of the two rolls, means tending to move the work rest toward the rolls, and means for moving the work rest away from the rolls tofacilitate introduction of the work.

18. Apparatus for use in crimping the margin of sheet material, said apparatus comprising a work rest constituting a support for the margin of the sheet material, a pair of toothed rolls turning about spaced axes, said axes normally being at such distances from the work rest that the peripheries of both rolls engage work resting on the work rest, the axes of the rolls being spaced apart a distance less than the radius of either roll and the rolls being disposed in parallel planes and closely adjacent to each other, and means operative positively to drive one of said rolls thereby to advance the work along the work rest toward the other roll,- and means operative .to prevent free rotation of the latter roll, a pivot arm supporting the work rest, spring means tending to swing the arm so as to cause the work rest to approach the rolls, and manually actuable means for moving the arm in the opposite direction.

19. Apparatus for use in crimping the margin of sheet material, said apparatus comprising a work rest constituting a support for the margin of the sheet material, a pair of toothed rolls turning about spaced axes, said axes normally being at such distances from the work rest that the peripheries of both rolls engage work resting on the work rest, the axes of the rolls being spaced apart a distance less thanthe radius of either roll and the rolls being disposed in parallel planes and closely adjacent .to each other, and means operative positively to drive one of said rolls thereby to advance the work along the work rest toward the other roll, and means operative to prevent free rotation of the latter roll, the work rest being movable toward and from the rolls, spring means urging it toward the rolls with suiiicient force to prevent it from retracting from the rolls during the crimping operation, the work rest having a chamber therein and a heating unit with the chamber, and means for moving the work rest away from the rolls to facilitate introduction of the work.

JACOB S. KANIBORIAN. 

